Surface structure of TiO2(001) after high temperature annealing studied by AFM, STM, and optical microscopy

Year: 2000

Authors: Nörenberg H., Dinelli F., Briggs G.A.D.

Autors Affiliation: University of Oxford, Dept. of Mat., Parks Road, OX1 3PH, Oxford, United Kingdom

Abstract: TO2(001) rutile single crystals have been annealed under ultra-high vacuum conditions to above 1000 degrees C for 1 h. The surface structure was investigated by AFM, STM and optical microscopy. The surface starts changing its structure after annealing to 1200 degrees C when lines appear at a separation of approximately 40 nm in the (100) directions. After further annealing to 1250 degrees C a more rough surface structure appears with shorter steps along the (110) directions. After annealing to 1300 degrees C lines in excess of 50 mu m length and 60 nm height can be observed by AFM and optical microscopy. We conclude that the lines are caused by slip and the relevant slip systems are {101}[10 (1) over bar] and {001}[100]. It has been shown that STM, AFM and optical microscopy are complementary and suited to study slip processes on a length scale between atomic dimensions and dimensions accessible for the naked eye.

Journal/Review: SURFACE SCIENCE

Volume: 446 (1-2)      Pages from: L83  to: L88

KeyWords: Atomic force microscopy (AFM); Optical microscopy; Slip systems; Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM); Titanium dioxide
DOI: 10.1016/S0039-6028(99)01134-6

Citations: 19
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